Section 1. Be it enacted, &c.,
First. That county commissioners of each and every county in this Commonwealth, except in counties of the first class where the coroner shall be, and he or they are hereby authorized, and empowered upon presentment of two successive grand juries of the county, to buy or rent real estate and erect and maintain a morgue thereon at the expense of such county for the reception and care of the bodies of all unclaimed deceased persons upon whom it may be necessary to hold a coroner's inquest, and such other bodies as the coroner of such county may by written order direct to be received therein. The location of such morgue to be approved by the county commissioners and a judge of the court of common pleas of such county and the coroner of such county. Whenever any county shall contain more than one city of the second class, the said county commissioners of such county may establish a morgue in each city of the second class embraced within the limits of such county, as aforesaid. (Par. amended May 26, 1937, P.L.895, No.236)
Second. Whenever a dead body may be found in any public place, or the body of any deceased person who is unknown shall be found within such county, the said body shall be removed to the morgue so established. (Par. amended Apr. 18, 1899, P.L.52, No.51)
Third. The coroner of each county in which a morgue or morgues may be established under this act, shall make general rules and regulations for its government and control; and shall appoint suitable persons, not exceeding three in number, for each morgue so established, to have charge of the same, and who shall be removable at the pleasure of the coroner; and the number of such persons, and the salary of such person, shall be fixed by the county commissioners (or salary board if such board exists), except in counties of the first class, the coroner shall determine the number of persons needed and appoint them and fix their salaries. (Par. amended May 26, 1937, P.L.895, No.236)
Fourth. All bodies received at said morgue or morgues shall, if the coroner deems it necessary, be properly embalmed or prepared for preservation for such length of time as he may think proper (and shall be subjected to examination and inspection by such persons as he may, in writing, authorize to view the same, or who may be admitted in his presence), and said body or bodies shall be removed for burial only upon his certificate.(Par. amended Apr. 18, 1899, P.L.52, No.51)
Fifth. In counties of the first class the coroner, and in all other counties the county commissioners, where any such morgue shall have been established, shall purchase and maintain an ambulance for the removal of bodies to and from said morgue, and for the burial of unknown or unclaimed bodies, the cost of maintaining which shall be paid out of the funds of said county. (Par. amended May 26, 1937, P.L.895, No.236)
Sixth. That all clothing and personal property of deceased persons received in such morgue, who are unknown or unclaimed, shall be retained at said morgue under charge of the coroner for the period of one year, unless sooner claimed by the legal representatives of the deceased, and at the end of one year may be sold at public sale, after advertisement by publication in one or more newspapers in said county once a week for three weeks, and by not less than six handbills posted in the neighborhood of said morgue. (Par. amended Apr. 18, 1899, P.L.52, No.51)
Seventh. The proceeds of all sales of personal property, as provided in this act, shall be paid into the county treasury of the proper county upon the first day of each month, of which the coroner of the county shall make report in writing, under oath, at the time of said payment. (Par. amended Apr. 18, 1899, P.L.52, No.51)